Living in Quebec is a lot of fun. (I am here until May 2005 on fellowship.) First, Montreal is culturally very vibrant. It is superior to Toronto in many ways -- sorry to my friends there. But the politics here are really heating up, and it is fascinating watching it all take place.
First, the Parti Quebecois released a report on attitudes towards sovereignty among young people showing that support for independence is dying. The authors of the report, a gang of 3 young MNAs known as the Three Musketeers, travelled the province for a few months and came back saying the PQ is losing touch with young people. Bernard Landry, the party leader, is reportedly embracing the report. I found this surprising.
Second, Mario Dumont has come out calling for Quebec to be "automous" within Canada. This is fresh off the heels of Dumont's ADQ picking up their fifth seat in the legislature in a byelection earlier this week, and on the eve of the party's convention in Drummondville. (I will be attending and am looking forward to it immensely.) Dumont is clearly trying to put himself squarely in the middle of the Charest Liberals and the PQ, and it looks like a smart strategy.
Provincial politics here is quite lively. Its also nice to see a public discourse so focused on real ideas and policies, and not petty back-biting. I'm liking it here.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:33 AM
